Besednice and the Slabošovka Observation Tower
Besednice is an ideal starting point for trips to the peaks of the “Chicken Hills,” aptly named Kohout (Rooster, 871 m) and Slepice (Hen, 865 m).
This market town lies about 10 km northeast of Kaplice at the northern foothills of the Soběnov Highlands—better known as the Chicken Hills. Thanks to its location, Besednice serves as an ideal base for excursions to Kohout and Slepice. The town’s first written record dates to 1396, but its history is likely much older.
Key architectural landmarks include the Baroque Church of St. Prokop (1738), which, together with the churches in Sv. Jan, Střížov, and Soběnov, defines the landscape of the Doudlebsko region. Also notable is the chapel on the village green with a statue of St. John of Nepomuk. The largest group of heritage buildings in Besednice is the row of gabled farmsteads around the square, whose façades are tied together by a continuous cornice. One of the oldest farms, No. 60, preserves the rural Baroque architecture and houses a stallion breeding station. Its owner is also a collector of horse harnesses, tack, and ceremonial gear. This collection—of bridles, harnesses, cruppers, whips, etc.—can be visited by prior arrangement. For more info, visit www.besednice.cz.
Nearby stands the Slabošovka Tower, a telecom and observation tower built by T‑Mobile in 2002. This square steel structure sits at 624 m above sea level, with a platform 24 m high reached by 120 steps. The view includes the Chicken Hills, Blanský Forest, Novohradské Mountains, adjacent Šumava areas, and, on clear days, even the Alps.
Entry is uniquely designed: unlike other towers, entrance begins entirely outside the main structure, crossing a “bridge” over the technical base about three meters high before reaching the internal stairway. From Besednice’s center, a roughly 1 km trail marked in green leads to the tower. It’s open year-round.
